Inflatable Shaded Beach Pillow

ABSTRACT

An inflatable shaded pillow for beach or other outdoor use is disclosed. An inflatable bladder is provided in any of a variety of beach or outdoor themed shapes and colors. The bladder in its inflated shape generally has a pillow base, a rear support member, and a shade providing member with the rear support member fixedly attached to the pillow base and supporting the shade member up above the head of the user. Optionally, one or more cylindrical cavities for supporting a beverage container may incorporated into the shape of the base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/682187 filed Aug. 10, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to beach and outdoor accessories and in particular to inflatable pillows for relaxing on the beach or outdoors. Many people enjoy relaxing outdoors or sunbathing while keeping their face and eyes shielded from the sun. Conventional sunglasses and hats offer only partial protection of the eyes and face, and large beach umbrellas are awkward to carry and set up making them less than optimal solutions. A small and lightweight apparatus that can cast shade over the user's face would therefore be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to an inflatable shaded pillow for beach or other outdoor use. An inflatable bladder is provided in any of a variety of beach or outdoor themed shapes and colors. The bladder in its inflated shape generally has a pillow base, a rear support member, and a shade providing member with the rear support member fixedly attached to the pillow base and supporting the shade member above the head of the user. Optionally, one or more cylindrical cavities for supporting a beverage container may be incorporated into the shape of the base.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment resembling a tree showing the base 100, shade member 101, rear support 102, and cavity 103.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the second exemplary embodiment resembling a breaking ocean wave showing the base 200, shade member 201, rear support 202, and cavity 203.

FIG. 3 shows a side-elevated view of the third exemplary embodiment resembling a shell showing the base 300, shade member 301, rear support 302, and cavity 303.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the fourth exemplary embodiment resembling a surfboard showing the base 400, shade member 401, rear support 402, and cavity 403.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the fifth exemplary embodiment resembling a bent-over surfboard resting on sand showing the sand-textured base 500, shade member 501, rear support 502, and cavity 503.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to an inflatable pillow for beach or outdoor use. Each pillow comprises a bladder composed of a flexible and airtight material; many such plastics are known in the prior art. Many means of inflation and deflation are likewise known in the prior art, and any may be used. For example, a flexible plastic or rubber check valve of the kind commonly used in inflatable toys and objects may be provided. Such valves may be inflated or deflated manually, or with a manual or automatic air pump, which may be provided with the pillow to form a kit.

In general, each embodiment comprises, in its inflated shape, a base on which the user lays his or her head, a rear support member attached to the rear top thereof, and a shade-providing member attached to and supported by the rear support member, which is raised over the user's head to provide shade. The several members are preferably monolithically affixed to one another with internal fluid communication among them so as to form a single fluid container, though alternative embodiments may provide multiple separate fluid containers that are separately inflated or separated by internal baffles to allow for differing fluid pressures between the several members or regions thereof.

In each embodiment, the base, rear support, and shade member are shaped according to a conceptual theme. The theme may be related to the beach or other outdoor area where the invention may be used, or to the ocean or marine life. For example, conceptual beach related themes of a palm tree, breaking ocean wave, shell, and surfboard are contemplated and described herein.

Optionally, the base member or any embodiment may feature a cavity formed in its top surface; the cavity is preferably cylindrical and of sufficient diameter and depth to support a beverage container. A retained beverage may be kept at a reduced temperature in part by the shade provided.

FIG. 1 shows the first exemplary embodiment. In the first exemplary embodiment, the invention is shaped to resemble a tree, for example a palm tree. A base 100 is provided; the base 100 is generally oblong or pillow shaped and decorated with a color or pattern to resemble sand or ground. Attached monolithically to the rear center of the base 100 is a rear support 102; the rear support 102 rises vertically to a sufficient height to comfortably accommodate an adult person's head. The rear support 102 is decorated with a color or pattern to resemble a tree trunk, for example a palm tree trunk. Attached monolithically to the rear support 102 is a shade member 101. The shade member 101 is shaped and decorated to resemble a tree canopy, including a regular deciduous tree canopy or palm fronds. Optionally, a cavity 103 may be provided; the cavity 103 is a part of the shape of the base 100, and is sized to accommodate a beverage container.

FIG. 2 shows the second exemplary embodiment. In the second exemplary embodiment, the pillow is shaped and decorated (for example in blue, or a blue and white pattern) to resemble a breaking ocean wave. A base 200 is provided resembling the bottom of a breaking wave; the material of the base 200 sweeps back to form a rear support 202 resembling the rear of a breaking wave and curves over in front at a height sufficient to comfortably accommodate an adult person's head to form a shade member 201 resembling the breaking top region of a breaking wave. Optionally, a cavity 203 may be provided; the cavity 203 is part of the base 200 and is sized to accommodate a beverage container.

FIG. 3 shows the third exemplary embodiment, which is shaped and decorated (for example in pink, or a pink and white pattern) to resemble a shell. A base 300 resembles the lower half of the shell , and is monolithically attached to a rear support 302, which resembles the hinge of the shell, and which is monolithically attached to a shade member 301 which is shaped to resemble the upper half of the shell. Optionally, a cavity 303, sized to accommodate a beverage container may be provided in the shape of the base 300.

FIG. 4 shows the fourth exemplary embodiment. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a base 400 is provided. The base 400 may be an abstract or any convenient shape suitable for a surfboard to be leaned upon and to function as a head pillow, and may be decorated in a manner thematically appropriate for the beach (e.g. sand pattern or water pattern). Monolithically attached to the base 400 is a rear support 402, which in the fourth exemplary embodiment may be reduced to a single attachment point. The rear support 402 supports a shade member 401, which is shaped and decorated to resemble a surfboard. Optionally, a cavity 403, sized to accommodate a beverage container, may be provided in the shape of the base 400.

FIG. 5 shows the fifth exemplary embodiment. In the fifth exemplary embodiment, a base 500 is provided. The base 500 is decorated to resemble a patch of sandy ground, for example at a beach. Monolithically attached to the base 500 is a rear support 502, which supports a shade member 501. The rear support 502 and shade member 501 are together shaped and decorated to resemble a surfboard that has been bent over from its usual flat configuration into a partial arch shape. Optionally, a cavity 503, sized to accommodate a beverage container, may be provided in the shape of the base 500.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A shaded beach pillow comprising: (a) a base; (b) a rear support; (c) a shade member; (d) said base, said rear support, and said shade member each being inflatable and made of a flexible airtight material; (e) said rear support being affixed to said base such that said rear support is vertically oriented relative to said base; (f) said shade member being affixed to said rear support such that said shade member is supported above said base by said rear support; and (g) said base, said rear support, and said shade member being shaped and decorated according to a conceptual theme.
 2. The shaded beach pillow of claim 1 wherein said base, said rear support, and said shade member are in internal fluid communication with one another.
 3. The shaded beach pillow of claim 1 wherein said base is shaped monolithically to feature a cavity whereby a beverage container may be supported upright in said cavity.
 4. The shaded beach pillow of claim 2 wherein said base is shaped monolithically to feature a cavity whereby a beverage container may be supported upright in said cavity.
 5. The shaded beach pillow of claim 1 wherein said conceptual theme is related to one of the group of concepts of the beach, the ocean, the outdoors, or marine life.
 6. The shaded beach pillow of claim 2 wherein said conceptual theme is related to one of the group of concepts of the beach, the ocean, the outdoors, or marine life.
 7. The shaded beach pillow of claim 3 wherein said conceptual theme is related to one of the group of concepts of the beach, the ocean, the outdoors, or marine life.
 8. The shaded beach pillow of claim 6 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a tree, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated to resemble ground, said rear support is shaped and decorated to resemble the trunk of a tree, and said shade member is shaped and decorated to resemble a tree canopy.
 9. The shaded beach pillow of claim 8 wherein the tree of said conceptual theme is a palm tree.
 10. The shaded beach pillow of claim 7 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a tree, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated to resemble ground, said rear support is shaped and decorated to resemble the trunk of a tree, and said shade member is shaped and decorated to resemble a tree canopy.
 11. The shaded beach pillow of claim 10 wherein the tree of said conceptual theme is a palm tree.
 12. The shaded beach pillow of claim 6 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a breaking ocean wave, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated to resemble the bottom of a breaking wave, said rear support is shaped and decorated to resemble the rear of a breaking wave, and said shade member is shaped and decorated to resemble the breaking top region of a breaking wave.
 13. The shaded beach pillow of claim 7 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a breaking ocean wave, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated to resemble the bottom of a breaking wave, said rear support is shaped and decorated to resemble the rear of a breaking wave, and said shade member is shaped and decorated to resemble the breaking top region of a breaking wave.
 14. The shaded beach pillow of claim 6 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a shell, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated to resemble the lower half of a shell, said rear support is shaped and decorated to resemble the hinge of a shell, and said shade member is shaped and decorated to resemble the upper half of a shell.
 15. The shaded beach pillow of claim 7 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a shell, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated to resemble the lower half of a shell, said rear support is shaped and decorated to resemble the hinge of a shell, and said shade member is shaped and decorated to resemble the upper half of a shell.
 16. The shaded beach pillow of claim 6 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a surfboard, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated as a support to a leaning surfboard, said rear support is reduced to a point at which a surfboard appears to lean upon said base, and said shade member is shaped and decorated to resemble a surfboard.
 17. The shaded beach pillow of claim 7 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a surfboard, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated as a support to a leaning surfboard, said rear support is reduced to a point at which a surfboard appears to lean upon said base, and said shade member is shaped and decorated to resemble a surfboard.
 18. The shaded beach pillow of claim 6 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a surfboard, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated sandy ground, and said shade member and said rear support are shaped and decorated to together resemble a surfboard that is bent over into a partial arch shape.
 19. The shaded beach pillow of claim 7 wherein said conceptual theme is that of a surfboard, and wherein said base is shaped and decorated sandy ground, and said shade member and said rear support are shaped and decorated to together resemble a surfboard that is bent over into a partial arch shape. 